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Timberlake, Beyonce tipped for glory at MTV awards in Las Vegas
2007-09-08
Despite not even being nominated for an award, Britney Spears looks set to steal the show at the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday, where Justin Timberlake and Beyonce are among the most nominated stars. Pop princess Spears will open the star-studded 24th annual MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas -- her first major stage event since the birth of her two children. The pop diva is due to perform "Gimme More" from her upcoming fifth album, set for release in November, in her first major public performance in three years and the latest step on her comeback from a string of personal problems. Pop sensation Timberlake and Beyonce, the Texas-born RB starlet, are both up for a total of seven awards, leading a crowded field that also sees rapper Kanye West and teenage RB star Rihanna both nominated for five awards. British newcomer Amy Winehouse, most recently in the news for canceling a string of US and European gigs for health reasons as she reportedly tries to beat a serious drink and drug problem, is up for three gongs. But the most-sought-after Video of the Year award appears to have no clear favorite among nominees that include Timberlake's "What Goes Around ... Comes Around" and Beyonce's "Irreplaceable." They were to face off for the top award with West's "Stronger," Rihanna's "Umbrella," Winehouse's "Rehab" and French electro duo Justice's "D.A.N.C.E." Underground Chicago foursome Fall Out Boy were runaway favorites for the Best Group award, ahead of alternative metal fivesome Linkin Park. Modern rock quartet Maroon 5, New York indie/hip-hop crossover band Gym Class Heroes and outsiders White Stripes, the Detroit rock duo, are also in the running for the best group Moonman, as the astronaut-themed statuettes are known. Winehouse is favorite in the Best New Artist category, where she faces off against fellow Briton Lily Allen, Swedish indie-poppers Peter Bjorn John, American Idol country queen Carrie Underwood and Gym Class Heroes. The organizers have shaken up this year's awards ceremony, hit by slumping viewer numbers in recent years, with a raft of new categories including Monster Single of the Year and Most Earth-Shattering Collaboration. Perhaps the most unusual new award is the Quadruple Threat of the Year Award, granted to artists as much for their work in fashion, activism or business as on stage. U2 frontman Bono is notably among the nominees. Besides Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West and Rihanna are all to perform at the ceremony, being held in the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Amy Winehouse had been slated, but canceled last month. Started in 1984, the MTV awards were originally launched to challenge the more traditional Grammy awards. Among the more controversial episodes during that time, Madonna kissed Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera live on stage during the 2003 show. Viewer numbers rose the following year, but only briefly.
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